Five hundred and fifty more men wanted at once! The time has come for all men between the ages of 19 and 38 to reconsider their position with regard to military service. War workers and physically unfit should be the only exception.
An appeal by an outside contributor to The Luton News said many at the start of the war were satisfied that the call had not come for them yet, but now the county requires 550 more men to form a trained reserve on which its Territorial Service Battalion can draw to make up wastage. This Battalion (the 1/5th Beds Regt) was mobilised at the outbreak of war and has since been training at Bury St Edmunds and Norwich, where it has won golden opinions and unstinted praise from general officers responsible for its efficiency. Major Brighten, its Commanding Officer, has been described as one of the most efficient Territorial officers in training, and his battalion is comparable with the best of Regular units.
Men of Bedfordshire, do not be deaf to this appeal, and this chance of avenging the dastardly crimes by which Prussian militarism is sullying the name of civilisation.
Women of Bedfordshire, realise that were it not for the sea and our Navy you would be subjected more fiercely than has been the case even in Belgium to the terrors of German occupation. Liberate your menfolk by encouragement, and learn to do their work at the desk, factory or in the fields, and let them go to assist the civilised world to stamp out for ever this vicious despotism.
Employers of Bedfordshire, do you utmost to run your work without the assistance of men eligible for military service.
The only quick way of putting an end to this devastating war is for every man, woman and child to "do their bit".
Roll up with your friends in your hundreds, and enlist at once at Headquarters, 46 Gwyn Street, Bedford, or apply for particulars of the Territorial Recruiting Officer at the Corn Exchange, Luton. Or wait to be fetched by the detachment of the 2/5th Bedfordshire Regiment who are starting their Recruiting March.
Support your local Territorial Battalion and see that you enlist in the 3/5th Bedford Regt.
After the war is over, what will your children say if you have no good excuse for not having "done your bit"?
The Luton News pointed out that the Recruiting March referred to would begin towards the end of the following week, touching almost every village of any size within Bedfordshire. The march was being undertaken by officers and men of the 2/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, together with the battalion brass and bugle bands.
Lieut-Col the Hon Victor Russell, in command of the 2/5th Battalion was under orders to raise a 3/5th Battalion of 550 men which would act as a depot from which to recruit into the 1/5th to cover any wastage that might occur. The aim was to reach all men aged 19 to 38 in the county who were eligible for military service.
The Recruiting March would comprise a party from Newmarket of about six officers and 125 men, including the bands, to whom the defunct Sandy Brass Band was loaning instruments. Apart from the bandsmen, all the men in the recruiting party would be under 19 years of age as they were prohibited by their youth from going into the firing line until later and so would not be required to be sent abroad during the march.
The recruiting party was due to arrive from Newmarket at Baldock on Thursday, May 20th, and cover a total of 225 miles in 22 days. From Baldock they would march to Shillington via Stotfold, Arlesey, Henlow and Stondon. The planned programme was then:
Friday, March 21st: Shillington to Harlington, via Aspley End, Higham Gobian, Barton-in-Clay, Streatley and Sundon.
Saturday, May 22nd: Harlington to Luton, via Chalton and Leagrave.
Sunday, May 23rd: Round Luton, via Chiltern Green.
Monday, May 24th: Round Luton, via Stopsley.
Tuesday, May 25th: Luton to Dunstable, via Markyate, Caddington and Whipsnade.
Wednesday, May 26th: Dunstable to Leighton Buzzard, half the party going via Tilsworth, Stanbridge and Eggington, the other half going via Totternhoe, Edlesborough, Eaton Bray and Billington.
Thursday, May 27th: Leighton Buzzard to Eversholt, Half the company going via Heath, Hockliffe and Milton Bryan, the other half going via Hockliffe, Toddington and Tingrith.
The party would cover the remainder of the county between Friday, May 28th, and Friday, June 11th, finishing at Bedford.
[The Luton News, May 13th, 1915]